Grotjnd signal projector



Feb, @9

C. W. GiLLiC-BAN GROUND SIGNAL PROJECTOR Filed May 14, 1942 ln/vento@ Earl W. Billigan @SM5 ,y /QM// Patented Feb. 13, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as

amended April 30, 1928; 370 O. G. 757) 1 Claim.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to a device for projecting a pyrotechnic signal into the air ,from the ground and which is particularly adapted for use by troops.

It is frequently necessary for ground troop commanders to convey orders to troops or signal various maneuvers to other groups at night by some convenient means. 'This is usually accomplished by some form of projector or signal pistol that will project a flare to a considerable height above the ground. A need has existed for a signal projector that is of simple, rugged construction, inexpensive to fabricate, capable of operation under any conditions and also able to safely discharge a more powerful signal than heretofore used.

f It is an object of this invention to provide an improved signal projector for launching a pyrotechnic flare.

Another object of this invention is to provide a signal projector that may be discharged simply by striking the base of the projector against any suitable object.

A further object of this invention is to provide inertia means for self ignition of the propelling charge by the signal.

The specific nature of the invention as well as other objects and advantages thereof will clearly appear from a description of a preferred embodiment as shown in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of anassembled signal projector.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of Fig. 2 taken along plane A-A.

As shown in Fig. 2, in assembled relation, is a signal projector comprising a barrel I and a cap 2. The cap 2 is cup shaped and is threadably secured to the barrel I by threads 3.

About the outer periphery and approximately in the center of the barrel is a shallow annular groove 4 which receives a circular shaped spring 5. 'Ihe depth of groove 4 is such that when the spring 5 is assembled to the barrel it will be ush with the outer periphery of the barrel I. The spring 5 is shaped from suitable narrow at material to conform to the outer contour of barrel I but does not fully surround the barrel when assembled in proper relation to the barrel as shown in Fig. 3. The spring 5 is of course made somewhatI smaller than the barrel diameter to provide sufficient spring'action. A retaining pin 6 is suitably secured as by riveting to the center of spring 5. The retaining pin 6 projects thru ahole 'I a short distance into the bore of barrel I.

In the center of cap 2 a firing pin 8 is secured, preferably'by the threads 9. The firing pin 8 comprises a threaded portion Il) and a flanged head with suitably formed striker point II. The flanged head II bears tightly against the inside of cap 2 when the firing pin is screwed in place by engagement of threads 9 and I0. An annular groove I3 is provided near the outer edge of cap 2 to receive a suitable sling loop ring I4 which is secured to the cap 2 by any convenient means as for example welding.

A typical signal projectile as shown in Fig. 2 comprises a cylindrical body I8, a head I1, and a tail section I9. The tail section I9 comprising a shaft 2| and vanes I6 attached to the end thereof for guiding ther flight of the signal is suitably secured to one end of the body I8. The head l1 containing the primer 2U is suitably secLued to the other end of body I8.

Loading the projector is elected by inserting a signal I5 primer-end foremost into' the vmuzzle end of barrel I and forcing it downwardly by hand until the end of the vanes I6 are flush with the muzzle of the barrel, as shown in dotted outline in Fig. 2. When the signal I5 comes in contact with the retaining pin 6, the pin 6 and hence spring 5 are forced outwardly and the retaining pin 6 under the action of spring 5 bears against the signal. Thus when the signal is properly positioned within the bore, the retaining pin E will maintain it in this position as long as desired or until otherwise displaced. The projector isv fired when the base of the cap 2 is struck sharply against any suitable object. The barrel of course must be grasped firmly and the projector brought down against the object in a vertical line. The sudden momentum imparted to the signal I5 by the abrupt stop in the downward movement of the projector causes the signal to overcome the frictional binding of the pin 6, moving downward to strike against the firing pin 8 thus igniting the primer I1 and eiecting the discharge of the signal.

I claim:

A signal projector comprising a tube adapted to receive a signal cartridge by insertion in one end, a cap closing the other end of the tube, a firing pin mounted on said cap, a at resilient band surrounding the central portion of said tube, and a pin secured to said band and projecting through a hole in said tube by the resilient force of said band, said band being proportioned so that the inertia force of a signal cartridgeY produced by striking the base of a projector on a solid surface will overcome the resilient force thereof.

CARL W. GILLIGAN. 

